What's behind an Advent Calendar?

I've been making Advent calendar Tablettes for a while and thought it would be interesting to learn a bit more about where Advent Calendars originally sprung up!

So apparently they have their origins in Germany during the 19th century. The earliest Advent calendars were quite different from the ones we see today, certainly the ones at Noble and Stace! They were often handmade and typically consisted of 24 chalk lines drawn on a door, with one line being erased each day to count down to Christmas.

The first printed Advent calendar, as we know it, was created in the early 20th century. Gerhard Lang is often credited with producing the first printed Advent calendar in 1908. He was inspired by a calendar his mother made for him as a child.

Calendars gained popularity across Europe over the years, usually featuring Bible verses or religious images behind each door, emphasizing the Christian aspect of the Advent season.

Now here's where we get Chocolatey! Chocolate Advent Calendars emerged in the mid 20th century when instead of pictures, each window contained a piece of chocolate. In the latter half of the 20th century, Advent calendars became more commercialised and diversified. They started featuring a wide range of themes and characters, appealing to a broader audience beyond religious traditions.

Today, as we all know, Advent calendars come in various forms, from traditional paper calendars with small doors to digital versions and specialty calendars filled with various items like beauty products, toys, or gourmet treats. 

Our Advent Tablettes are still unique in that we do away with the doors and just focus on the chocolate! 24 chunks of milk, white or dark chocolate, each one piped with the date - your challenge is to break off just one chunk a day!  

Find them here: Christmas Advent chocolate bar in milk, white or dark chocolate – Noble and Stace